Country singer kicks off big-name series at The Davis Graduate

Check it out

Who: Country singer David Nail

When: 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: The Davis Graduate, 805 Russell Blvd.

Tickets: $22 presale, visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com; $27 at the door; patrons must be 18 or older

Put on your cowboy boots and hats, country music fans, and head to The Davis Graduate, the premier country spot in town.

David Nail, a Grammy- and Academy of Country Music-nominated artist, will perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday at The Graduate, 805 Russell Blvd. Patrons age 18 and over are welcome.

Tickets are $27 at the door. For $22 presale tickets, visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com; for more information, visit http://www.davisgrad.com.

In 2011 alone, Nail co-wrote a song that spent 48 weeks climbing the Billboard chart, sang “God Bless America” at the World Series and toured with country superstars Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum.

Chances are you’ve heard Nail’s No. 1 hit single, “Let it Rain,” his third single to hit the top-40 country charts. It’s a quintessential break-up song. “Let it Rain” is a song that not only appeals to country music fans, but music fans in general. Its theme is universal, painting a vivid picture of a breakup:

Now me and my pile of things
That she threw out the window
Drowning next to me
So let it rain, let it pour, she don’t love me anymore
Let it come down on me
Every word, let it hurt, even more than I deserve

If you have no valentine, or you recently lost yours, don’t wallow in self-pity, come out to The Grad and hear Nail belt out this tune with his full back-up band. It will be a cathartic experience.

The Missouri-born Nail has the potential to reach much more than just a country audience. He counts Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Glen Campbell, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and the Beatles as influences, and it shows in his sound.

“Let it Rain” even hit the non-country Billboard chart. Much like recent Grammy Award-winning Lady Antebellum, Nail has a pop sensibility that has crossover appeal.

And he’s just the beginning of a stellar lineup at The Davis Graduate.

“We have some really great shows coming up,” president Charlie Swanson said. “Danny Ramos, The Grad’s general manager, has done an amazing job of bringing national acts to Davis.”

Upcoming shows include Steve Holy, March 8; Frankie Ballard, March 10; Uncle Kracker, April 4; Josh Thompson, April 5; and Edens Edge, April 6.

“These are all nationally recognized acts signed to major label contracts,” Swanson said. “Bringing acts of this caliber can be financially risky but we want to take the chance in order to bring the very best to Davis.

“We have a summer lineup that we are still awaiting confirmation on.”

Swanson stressed how fortunate the Davis audience is to catch these shows.

“We are featuring acts that fans have a very limited opportunity to see in a 500-person venue. Ten years from now, people are not going to believe they had the chance to see this talent in Davis.”

Swanson expects big turnouts at the upcoming concerts, and don’t worry if you failed to plan ahead. Swanson saves 100 tickets for the day of the show so folks can have a chance of getting in.

Booking national acts has created a customer base for The Davis Graduate that’s regional, not just local, he said.

“We have regulars from Napa to Folsom, Grass Valley and Rocklin,” he said. “When we book a national act, it is the only time they are playing in the area. We are the Sacramento Valley’s only chance to see these headliners.”

Will The Grad feature national acts outside the country genre?

“We are focused on country right now because of the success we have had with past events,” Swanson explained. “But most of these artists have huge crossover hits.”

Speaking of huge crossover hits, a pop/rock star recently surprised patrons of The Grad.

“We did have Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy play a secret lunch concert last month,” Swanson said. “That’s why you should eat at The Grad!”